1. Waves – Sleeper Agent – The first song off what might be the sleeper album of the year joins up with an image of California washed away while the band plays on the beach. An anthems anthem.
2. Head – Lydia Loveless – The descending lick here is pro-forma rock and roll and Loveless’ voval is low, growly and sexy.
3. Rather Be – Clean Bandit – This is a fascinating song, an EDM pop song of the highest order, taken further by the odd instrumentation in the background. Plus Jess Glynn’s exemplary lead vocal.
4. Sweetheart Like You – Craig Finn – By the way that’s a cute hat… Finn was built to sing this.
5. Summer – Calvin Harris – The reason why Calvin produces stronger songs than Avicii is because Calvis never loses sight of the beat.
6. Sour Times – The Civil Wars The best Portishead cover you may ever hear, all the heavy dub is gone and the song is completely revealed.
7. NSA Man – Peter Stampfel – A straight attack at the heart of civilian surveillance.
8. Hi-Five – Angel Olsen – Singer-songwriter on electronics and ambient.
9. XO – Beyonce – The best song on her new album should top every chart in the world; a gorgeous pop ballad.
10. Heart Is A Drum – Beck – The sound of morning breeze, languid but awake
11. New York Morning – Elbow – This song is so lovely people can’t believe it exists and trash it.
12. Wake Me Up – Avicii By Avicii – Avicii – So apparently it wasn’t Aloe Blacc who made the song.
13. Once Upon A Dream – Lana Del Rey – Remarkable how Lana managed to take the lovely lilting Disney classic and made it a nightmare painting.
14. Long Hair – Drowners – The chorus is absolutely addictive
15. Emotions – Katy B – If the album disappoints, this full bloodied ballad does nothing of the sort.
16. A Tribe Called Red – Angel Haze – Completely unique and brilliant use of Native American tracks by the “crossbreed”.
17. Unconditional Love – Against Me! – Best rocker seems to be straight up.
18. Drown In Blue – Marla Mase – Half spoken word, half raucous rocker, not drowning but waving.
